All articles tagged with #anonymity
San Francisco artist-researcher Olivia Tai collected anonymous AI-related notes from people in San Francisco, San Jose, and New York, turning them into the What We Tell AI website. The confessions—ranging from AI-assisted school work to voice cloning for emotional closure—offer a personal, sometimes poignant view of how everyday people relate to and fear AI, presented as an ethnographic art project rather than scientific data.
An Illinois Powerball winner of $1.04B can remain anonymous by filing a claim; they must choose between a lump-sum cash option of about $450.5M or a 30-year annuity. If they take the lump sum, 24% federal withholding reduces it to about $342.4M, with a further 13% federal tax dropping it to about $283.8M; Illinois will withhold roughly $22.3M for a 4.95% state tax, leaving about $261.5M. Anonymity is allowed for prizes over $250K if requested; otherwise the winner’s name and city may be disclosed. The claim deadline for the lump sum is Oct 11, and the ticket was bought at a Hy-Vee in Quincy, IL.
Powerball’s eighth-largest prize in history was won by a single ticket sold in Illinois, delivering a $1.04 billion jackpot with numbers 4-26-66-67-69 and Powerball 9 (Power Play x2). The winner can take about $450.5 million as a lump sum before taxes or opt for 29 annual payments; taxes will reduce the amount based on state and federal rules. Three other tickets matched all five white balls for $1 million (AZ, FL, NC); California also won the $1 million Match 5 prize and Massachusetts won $2 million with Power Play. The overall odds of hitting the grand prize are 1 in 292.2 million. Anonymity rules vary by state, with Virginia now allowing winner anonymity and Illinois permitting it for prizes of $250,000 or more; many states still disclose some information.
The $800 million Mega Millions prize ticket sold at a Lakewood Ranch-area Wawa in Florida remains unclaimed. Florida law allows lottery winners of $250,000+ to keep their identity confidential for 90 days after claiming; if the prize is taken as a lump-sum, it must be claimed within 60 days (180 days otherwise). Whether the winner’s name is publicly revealed may depend on how the Florida Lottery handles high-dollar prizes, as prior big wins have been identified by LLCs (e.g., Saltines Holdings LLC) rather than individuals, potentially leaving anonymity intact even after a claim.
The FCC is weighing sweeping Know Your Customer rules that would require government ID, a physical address, full legal name, and an existing phone number to obtain or renew voice service, with fines of $2,500 per illegal call charged to providers. While officials say the goal is to stop scams, critics warn the regime could erode semi-anonymous communications (burner phones) and sweep in red flags like crypto payments or nonmatching addresses, potentially harming vulnerable users; the rules are not yet in force and the commission is seeking public comment on privacy concerns.
The article introduces Tails (The Amnesic Incognito Live System), a Debian-based Linux distro you can boot from a USB drive to maximize privacy by routing all activity through the Tor network. It includes built-in apps like LibreOffice, GIMP, and Inkscape, and data isn’t saved by default unless you enable Persistent Storage. It also provides steps to get started: download Tails, create a bootable USB with Rufus (Windows) or Etcher (macOS), and boot from the USB on most computers (Apple Silicon Macs aren’t fully supported yet).
Reuters reports that Robin Gunningham is Banksy, though the artist has not confirmed the identity. The unmasking ends the global mystery and raises questions about whether anonymity has fueled Banksy’s mystique and market value, with predictions of possible shifts in output and prices; history shows some artists (e.g., Basquiat, KAWS) thrive after exposure, and anonymity remains a strategic choice across arts and beyond.
A Reuters investigation claims to have identified Banksy as Robin Gunningham (who later used the name David Jones), reigniting decades of speculation about the anonymous street artist’s true identity. The article traces his Bristol origins, rise to global fame, notable stunts like Dismaland and the 2018 Girl with Balloon shredding, and notes several names linked to Banksy, though fans argue anonymity remains central to the brand.
A Guardian report summarizes a study showing large language models can de-anonymize anonymous social media accounts by cross-referencing publicly available details, raising privacy and security concerns as attackers or governments could use AI to link identities; the researchers urge stricter data access controls and better anonymization, noting AI tools aren’t foolproof and misattribution is possible.
The New York Times profiles Coral Hart, a Cape Town writer who uses AI to mass‑produce 200+ romance novels sold on Amazon without disclosing AI authorship, while running a coaching business called Plot Prose and developing software to generate a book from an outline in under an hour, raising questions about transparency and stigma in AI publishing.
Food critic Tom Sietsema is stepping down from his anonymous role and will now reveal his identity, reflecting on his past practice of not photographing people to maintain discretion during restaurant reviews.
The article discusses how the rise of social media and public filming has eroded anonymity, turning everyday moments into potential viral content that can lead to public shame or fame, exemplified by incidents like a family’s distress in public and the viral spread of humorous or embarrassing videos.
The New York Times has appointed two new restaurant critics, Ligaya Mishan and Tejal Rao, and announced that they will no longer remain anonymous, marking a shift from traditional critic anonymity to a more transparent approach.
A woman has amended her lawsuit against Sean "Diddy" Combs to include Jay-Z, accusing both of sexual assault at a 2000 VMAs after-party. Both celebrities deny the allegations, with Jay-Z demanding the accuser reveal her identity. The case highlights the challenges survivors face, including the importance of anonymity and the potential for discrepancies in their accounts. Legal expert Judie Saunders discusses the complexities of such cases, emphasizing the need for due process and the impact of civil suits on criminal investigations.
Jay-Z's lawyer has filed a motion demanding that a woman accusing the rapper of rape reveal her identity or drop the lawsuit. The accuser, identified as "Jane Doe," claims Jay-Z and Sean "Diddy" Combs raped her at a party after the 2000 MTV Video Music Awards when she was 13. Jay-Z's lawyer argues that the accuser's anonymity is unjustified and that the allegations are damaging to Jay-Z's reputation. The case has sparked a legal battle, with Jay-Z accusing the accuser's lawyer of blackmail.